49ers Rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling Expected To Miss 4+ Games

San Francisco 49ers rookie wide reciever De'Zhaun Stribling is expected to miss at least four games with an ankle injury.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sep 16, 2026, 10:47 AM

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 11: De'Zhaun Stribling #7 of the San Francisco 49ers is attended t...

De'Zhaun Stribling #7 of the San Francisco 49ers is attended to by trainers after an injury in the second quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers will be without one of their most highly touted rookie for at least the next month as injuries continue to limit their roster.

Rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after suffering a left ankle injury during San Francisco’s season-opening win over the Los Angeles Rams in Australia. ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news, reporting that Stribling is expected to miss at least four games.

Ian Rapoport added that it’s a deltoid sprain in his left ankle and that surgery isn’t currently part of his recovery plan, but options are still being considered.

#49ers rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling, who left the opener early with an injury, is out at least a month with a deltoid sprain in his ankle, sources say.

Stribling is still seeking opinions, and while surgery is not currently planned, it is possible. SF will be cautious. pic.twitter.com/adUmcDQS7Q

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 13, 2026

Stribling initially went down with a non-contact injury during the first half against Los Angeles. He briefly returned to the field before going down again and was eventually carted off. The immediate concern was an Achilles injury, but 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game that Stribling’s Achilles was intact.

Given the excitement around Stribling’s preseason and training camp performance, the timing is tough for San Francisco.

The 49ers selected the 23-year-old with the No. 33 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Stribling impressed in preseason with 11 catches for 109 yards across his first two appearances.

It also seemed like Stribling was going to get opportunity from Week 1, seeing a good amount of snaps even in a crowded WR room that features Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and Demarcus Robinson.

The loss adds another layer to a 49ers WR room already dealing with Ricky Pearsall’s season-ending knee injury. San Francisco still has plenty of veteran options, with Christian Kirk expected to return from IR eventually, but Stribling’s youth and unknown upside offered a different kind of excitement.

For now, Stribling will miss at least four games while San Francisco’s other options will have to step up as they’ve unfortunately had to grow accustomed to doing.

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49ers Rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling Expected To Miss 4+ Games

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